By Rachel Kalina
Sparkles could be seen from the back row of West Hempstead High School¹s auditorium not only in their clothes, but also in their eyes, which shone while their mouths formed accurate notes.
³The way you shape the inside of your mouth depends on your facial muscles,² said Joanne Kassimir, who joined the group last September. ³There¹s a whole science behind this that I¹m still learning.² With almost 80 women in the GNC, each person must learn to sing in a similar way, Kassimir added, ³so that it comes out as one word and one note ‹ so that it comes out as understandable.²
Titled ³A Great Day for Singing,² the Dec. 3 performance by the ladies of Sweet Adelines International Long Island chapter was a prime example of their year-long enthusiasm for singing. The full auditorium resounded with applause after each song
They entertained with old-time melodies, patriotic verses, and intermittent jokes between sets. Also featured were performances by quartets within GNC, students from St. Francis Prep School, and an all-female, Syossett High School quartet known as the Adelettes.
Although there are other choral groups on Long Island, the GNC is the largest. It has been around for about 30 years, and under the direction of Harriette Walters for 20. The women practice barbershop music, a type of four-part harmony, a capella singing, every Tuesday all year. They recently put out their first CD, calling it ³Tuesday Night Live² to pay homage to their favored rehearsal day.
One hostess at Sunday¹s performance joked, ³This CD will fit into most stockings,² as she had tested it for the holiday season.
The GNC¹s membership in the Sweet Adelines International group, which is comprised of about 30,000 women committed to promoting barbershop music, is top-ranked.
³You have to be very good and have a terrific ear to sing this stuff,² said Lynne Veitch. ³It¹s hard to do. This is one of the best choruses in the country and Harriette is fabulous. She¹s really qualified to direct a chorus in Carnegie Hall.²
The GNC has won a medal each spring since 1987 by competing against other New York Sweet Adelines chapters. GNC¹s most recent regional win in March will lead to their participation in a worldwide competition in Canada in October 2007. In the most recent international competition, held in 2005, the group won the Harmony Achievement Award as the smallest chorus with the highest score. Although the GNC rehearses all year long, competitions are particularly intense.
³Because of the upcoming competition, we¹ve gotten six new songs,² Kassimir said. ³Every word, every expression is being graded in a certain way for competition.²
Kassimir¹s desire to be a Sweet Adeline began when she heard GNC sing at her Synagogue. The experience convinced her to try out for the group.
³I could not believe how beautiful the sound was,² Kassimir said. ³It¹s a lot of work. Every song that we get, we have to learn independently and then we have to tape ourselves singing with the group. It¹s all based on how we sound ‹ we¹re not supposed to show individuality when we sing. We have to pronounce words the same and the expressions on our faces are important. It¹s very complicated, and it¹s such a challenge, and that¹s what I love about it.²
Walters¹s capabilities and the chorus¹s prestige has attracted for the GNC members from New Jersey and Manhattan, even though there are groups in those areas.
³It¹s because we¹re going places,² she said, ³Harriette¹s amazing ‹ everyday she¹s trying to improve our quality and level of singing.²
This was evident at ³A Great Day for Singing² as GNC quartets Shangri-La and Quest (of which Walters is a part) carried their voices far out across the audience and got a wash of applause in return for their efforts. Shangri-La sang ³Jeepers Creepers² among other old-time favorites, and also their namesake ³Shangri-La.² Quest sang ³Listen to My Heart,² an unusually uplifting barbershop song.
Kassimi said that singing has given her confidence. ³It¹s very therapeutic to sing,² she said. ³When you feel you¹re doing it right, it¹ s very rewarding ‹ but it¹s difficult to get to that point, you have to be willing to put in the time.²
Comments about this story? RKalina@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
